The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-01-19
IN THE MIDDLE WEST.
A Story of Life in the Great
Mississippi Valley.
BY ALVA MILTON KERR.
lCoPYRIGHT, 1886, BY THE A. N. KELLOGG
NEWSPAPER COMPANY.l
CHAPTER XXI.-CosTINuEp.

CHAPTER XXI.-CoNTINuEp
"Well, well! bless me, I'm glad to
see you, sir" cried Squire Thorp,
shaking John Earring vigorously by
the hand. 81 used to know your father
prime. You look some like him, but
more like the mother, Judge" Then
she that was once Hettie SPAWN found
her tongue loosened, and John Earling
learned q great deal of himself and his
parents ere the meal was finished.
Squire Thorp, widower, justice of
the peace, notary public, and admirer
of Mrs. BETTE Tressler, was very hearty,
and Mrs. Hettie Tressler, widow, owner
OF the Tressler farm, and leaser of the
Earlingford House, was overtlowingly
happy. John Earring, too found him
self strangely well entertained by
glimpscs they gave him of his unre-
membered years and time hidden be-
hind that misty period.
When he and Squire Thorp went out
into the little yellow office together,
after the meal had been discussed. the
young man ventured to ask the forid
Squire if he knew Ivyl Snaer.
BLESS you, yes, my boy, yes" cried
the squire, "have q smoke? Don't use
tobacker, Ell? Good idee; gin it my
self, but get so taemengus pussy if /
don't use it | have to back up to my
friends to shake hands with emf and
the squire laughed till he seemed in
danger of strangl,ng. After recover
ing himself lie drew on his cigar, and
leaning against the counter. ex-
claimed: "Knowed Ivyl Snaer? Bless
you, yes; bless you, yes. come onto
the scene early in life; was born in a
log house down on the bottom
there fifty-two year ago the twenty
second of next June, and by the help of
sweet cider an clear conscience
I've outweathered freshets and ager-
cake and always chung to these parts.
In fact | was born on Il freshet; my
fathers cabin was floatin' down the
bottom on one of the Ohier's annual
blow-outs when / made my first APP
pearance and took up the burden of
livin' in the world Never had no no.
ton of foatin sincer and the squire
gave kind of sucking snort of laugh
ter and strangled again. John Earring
was trifle bored by the garrulons
squire, but he never permitted himself
TO indicate such Il feeling for any one,
were their unpleasant features free of
evil
Is Mr.. Snaer still living?" he asked.
BLESS you! | don't know, | don't
know; guess not, though; he left here
before the war and went South some
where, and nobody, leastwise in these
parts has ever heard !. breath of i'm
or had the scratch of Il pen from i'm.
He always seemed like fish out OF
water after yonr fathers death. Guess
he didn't feel satisfied about takin' the
land as he did. But bless you! the
transaction was square and straight as
tombstone; he paid the money and
held the deed"
80 | understand"
'But he laid it clean over me-" said
the squire, SOLDERING and shaking his
head; 81 never could butt agin the
thing hard enough to make the reason
for his goin' off penetrate my pate. He
sold every thing he had about here but
the farm he got of your father; that he
put i'll my keer, an told me to hev' it
seeded down an paster an hay it an
put the proceeds in the bank for i'm
Then he cleared out, an not blessed
hair of i'm has ever showed above the
horizon Since!"
How long since was that?'
Fifteen years ago! fhe's in Heaven,
what's to become of the farm an pro-
ceeds? | never heerd of Jim havin'
kin on earth. Eve thought about it,
boy. till I've lost the bigger sheer of
my hair can't do the sum! It's as
tough as the dried gizzard of ancient
Pharaoh!' and with another snort the
squire strangled, and they walked out
upon the porch.
CHAPTER XXI.
Next morning John Earlinp. accom-